Colonel George Washington
Kentucky Post, Friday, 18 August 1905, page 5
COLONEL WASHINGTON SUFFERS SECOND STROKE
Attorney Howard Benton of Newport, received a long distance
telephone message this morning from Owenton, Ky. stating that Col. George
Washington suffered a stroke of paralysis. The message did not state how serious
his condition was. Attorney Ramsey Washington and wife left at once for Owenton.
Col. Washington was stricken with paralysis some time ago and recovered
sufficiently to be able to be about. He was at the home of relatives in Owenton
when he suffered the second stroke.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, Friday, 25 August 1905, page 3
PROMINENT NEWPORT LAWYER
Col. George Washington, of Newport, one of the best known lawyers
of Kentucky, died today at 6:20 pm at Owenton, where he was stricken with double
paralysis, while visiting relatives. At his bedside were Mrs. Washington, Mr.
and Mrs. Ramsey Washington and the Rev William Washington. Undertaker
Charles Smith was notified of his death and will leave for Owenton tomorrow
morning to bring the body to Newport.
Col. George Washington, of Newport, was one of the most gifted orators and lawyers Kentucky has produced, was a native of Campbell county, born December 25, 1944 and was a lineal descendant of William Washington, brother of the first President.
At the close of the Civil War, throughout which Mr. Washington served as a private in the Confederate army he returned to Newport penniless, the large possessions of his family having been swept away during that period. Before completing his preparation for admission to the bar, he went to Memphis Tenn. and secured permission to sleep in the office of one of the old lawyers in that city. Later he took meager lodgings with another young man, then also in financial straits, Thomas H Hines, who years later became Chief Justice of Kentucky's highest court.
Mr. Washington was soon recognized as an attorney of considerable ability and also acquired prominence upon the lecture platform, tow of his especially noted lectures on "Knocking About in the Field of Letter" and "Mullucks". But his greatest fame was probably attained by his address at the Confederate graves, near Knoxville, he being but twenty-six years of age at that time. Nearly every year since then he had been called upon to make an address upon similar occasions.
In 1882 Mr. Washington returned to Newport and was associated for a number of years in the practice with Col. R W Nelson. He found it difficult to avoid politics, for without solicitation on his part in 1890, he was selected as a delegate to the constitutional convention, which revised the Constitution of Kentucky. He there achieved great distinction by his work and speeches on the change adopted in the jury system in civil cases.
He was a prime mover in the bitter fight over the secret ballot system of voting and also in the contest over the adoption of the present law in voting for Councilmen throughout the city at large. In 1894 he was a candidate for Judge of the Court of Appeals of Kentucky but was defeated in the convention by one vote, Judge Paynter being the successful candidate.
In 1899 Col. Washington was urged to place the name of Senator Goebel before the famous Music hall convention at Louisville but declined the request. Two years ago, while in apparently perfect state of health, Col Washington sustained a paralytic stroke on one side of his body, from which, however, he recovered sufficiently to attend to his lucrative law practice. While visiting his cousin, Dr. Bainbridge, at Owenton, last Friday morning, the second stroke unexpectedly came.